Warkentine wins SJHL title after bouncing around in WHL

“As you can see by the stats and everything, it didn’t go as well as I planned,” Warkentine said, before he quickly added, “but I’m the kind of person that thinks everything happens for a reason.”

Warkentine’s story isn’t a fall from grace — it’s about making the most of a second chance.

In about a seven-month stretch, Warkentine went from getting cut to becoming a SJHL Canalta Cup champion.

Before he knew it, Warkentine was back on the saddle with the Melfort Mustangs, who beat the Flin Flon Bombers in six games to capture the team’s second straight league title.

“I guess it worked out for me to come here and to play meaningful time and to be a big part of a championship team. I’ll take that everyday over not playing in the western league,” said Warkentine. “I’ll never look back on (time in the WHL) negatively or anything. I still got the experience, I got to play with guys like Brayden Point and Morgan Rielly (in Moose Jaw), and Dillon Heatherington and Jake DeBrusk (in Swift Current).

“I look at that as a good learning experience for me for being around those guys, and play at that high level and keep the coaching (lessons).”

Warkentine put together 26 points in 51 regular season games and added another nine points in the postseason.

No point was more important than Warkentine’s assist on Sunday, April 24. It was the only helper on Wyatt Hinson’s SJHL championship winning goal, to give the Mustangs a 2-1 win over the Bombers.

Warkentine, Hinson and former Prince Albert Raider Craig Leverton found themselves put together on a line in the SJHL finals and didn’t take long to find chemistry.

“I knew Craig pretty good growing up. I played against him in my western league career and I knew Wyatt fairly well too in my bantam days, playing zones with him,” Warkentine said. “We clicked pretty well together, we got put together in the finals but we clicked really well together.

“We got the series clinching goal. All three of us are hardworking guys that have some offensive side to us.”

Throughout the season in Melfort, Warkentine routinely made trips back to Prince Albert for a number of reasons, but mainly to see his younger brother Drew play with the Prince Albert Raiders.

Drew finished out his first full WHL season this year, after the Raiders acquired him early in the season from the Kootenay Ice.

“I’ve actually seen him quite a bit this year, just being down the road,” Warkentine said. “I’m absolutely proud of him.”

Although they’ve wrapped up their second straight league title, the Mustangs are now preparing for the Western Canada Cup starting on Saturday in Estevan. They play the Portage Terries on Saturday for the tournament’s first game.

“Every single team, they’re a champion just like us,” Warkentine said. “Even Estevan, they’ve got a whole lot of players, skilled players and they’re not going to get walked over on their home ice. Basically, you have to play every shift like it’s your last and play every game with a game seven mentality.

Warkentine is one of three Prince Albert products on the Mustangs, the others being Braxx George and Adam Hergott. He’s also one of seven former Prince Albert Mintos on the team, as are St. Louis’ Justin Boyer, Teal Sobkowicz, Dakota Boutin and Derrick Hucul.

jdandrea@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @jeff_dandrea

by Jeff D'Andrea

Warkentine wins SJHL title after bouncing around in WHL

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